Decorticating machine



Dec. 6, 1949 J. 5. REEVES 2,490,157

DECORTICATING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1946 6 Shets-Sheet l Dec. 6, 1949 J. REEVES 2,490,157

DECORTICATING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1946 e Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 6, 1949 J. 5. REEVES 2,490,157

DECORTICATING MACHINE F led April 9, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 6, 1949 J. 5. REEVES DECORTICATING'MACHINE Filed April 9, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 6 Sfiets-Sheet 5 v EECEEEEEEEMWL Dec. 6, 1949 J. s. REEVES DECORTICATING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1946 Dec. 6, 1949 J, s, EVES 2,490,157

DECORTICATING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 M M a a IN V EN TOR.

axis. the ends vof the leaves ,beingihentldown, overv Patented Dec. 6 1.949

onerce 10 Claims. (Clf ill- 15") This invention, relatesv to decorticatlng machines particularly adaptedjfor"theproduction of fibierfrom the jleavesof plants .of theaAgave, fam= 11y, suclias sansev'ieri'a, cabulla, Maya,- pita 'il'oia, henequen and. the. like well as [the :members or the Hibiscus family and .iof (the ,nettle. family: suchltas ramie.

The leaves or stalkssoi. such plants are .7 long. an'dnarrow andjcontalnflongitudinal fibers which. canfbe recoveredhy cleaningraway h tplilp,jui etc.,, this, waste. materialfbeinghusually called. bagasse and the cleaning, operation 'fbeing .o'iten referred'to as. scuthin Although scutchinge. machines as proposedlhereto'forer have varied f. considerably, in 'deslen, and; construction, they have had certain commoncharacteristics., For example, it .,has beenproppsedlto feed thesleaves byhandlhorizontally andgendwise to a. rotatin scutching wheel at about v th'e levelwof ,the wheel.-

an arcuate, scutchinga surfaceby the rotating wheel, lnulargelt machines .the leaveslhave been placed on a horizontal feed tableor therlike where. suitable gripping andlconvey'ingfldevices.enga e one .end of the leaf andgconveyitthrongh theme: chine while the. other. endls. .beingncleaned, the. t. cleaned, fiber ,being, then, gr inpedwandwconveyed while the first endr'ofnthe'leafiis;being cleaned.v Thie. scutching-..opera.tiqn in such anachines howe ever, ,has ,,heretofore Lbeen similar. to that. of the, smaller ,hiand machines. mentioned. jabovee That is, although the ripped endno'f the leafhvhasfibeen. dragged axially ,past alscutching wheel, 561E011: ing has been accompHshedeby bendinglthe tree. end of the leaf downhfrom thetlevel .of rthe wheelg axis "over an .arcuate scutching, surface which ex, tends under the rotating, Wheel, the; scutching, surface following the .periphery of lthe wheel and. being swept by scutchinggblades lorhthe like. car.- riedby the wh'eeL,-

Such Lautomatic gfeed ;machines have been ,ob. two generalhtypese. Inone typenasinglescutcha ing wheel has been-provided andleaehleaf made twohpasses throuehthemmachine, 0118,8131.- being cleaned by the wheel during the! first .passsefi and thecleaned fiber, then, being lifted and gripped while the other s. end is turned ,over tor hang down under the scutching wheel .durinathe second pass. The capacity of such, machines is. limited, and "on theother "hand complicatedneler 50 va'ting, transfer and pverturningmeehanisms are. necessary to interchange the ends a of. the leaf with: respect to the switching means.

A modifieatiomof the "above type of machine, has-beenproposed ln whlch' a second scutching 55 wheel has beenloca'ted along thepflth oftravel of apart along and 'loca'ted'lon oppositesids of the,

center line of'th'e, machine, thepath of "travel of the centers of the leaves being along this center line with the'leaves lylng jlengthwise across the dire'ctiomof movement. These wheels rotate in oppps'ite'directions, theperiphery of each wheel movinginwardly toward and "downwardly past said path of "travel; The fleaf'is gripped on one side of the center linejand conveyed past -the first wheel at about the "level of "its axis, atleast'half ofthefleafatfits free endbeing bentdown-over' the scutching face and-'under-the wheel 'onthe other sideofthecente'r line: The-cleanedfi'ber leaving-:the-firstwheelis "their elevated to about thelevel-ofthesecond wheel axis andgripped-bw a second conveylng means" which conveystheleaf past the second wheel wltlrits'otnerend-bent dcwn-over-the seutching--"face--on the-'first-side of the center lines A serio'usiault common-twmachines 0f these-v eral types described -above=-has been their tend inaitwo v 'atetllre bends; mthervbreakage otxthe;

fibers lat: the;bendmnl-elsewhereds caused by the downwardlbeatingtandl :pul'l-ing-zstroke: of the rape. .7 idlyrmoving scu-tchinanblades:alongethe depending; ,v endrofrgthetleata. Brokemfrberssare stripped :awam

with the:;bagaseeion :at best ileaye ;the:;wheel awithi; tharemaimingllllbrokfflit fiberthe form or. 10089;;

unattached relatively ,short pieces of:little\va1ue.-

The brokenufibers remaining in the-other end of thecleaialso lbecome loose (unattached V pieces and manyof ,them;arecarried away with thelbagassea i thesecond. scutchina-nperatiom.

Machinesembodying the present invention- C01:

res ond morerlosely .ta thelast mentioned-types of. prior machine, inthMtheycomprise automatic:-

feeding .means.r-w-together with alpair-of scutching, wheelsspacedalong thelpafli of, travel of ,thecene 1381.. ppr'tions of the leaves i.l.e.,, th,e center line. of, the 'm'achiner the-wheels rotating, ,in .ODpOSitGUdi-n rections and operatingin succession on the opposite ends of the leaves. In other respects, however, the invention departs radically from prior practice as pointed out below.

One or the main obJects of the invention is to prevent practically completely the breakage of fiber that takes place as set forth above, and thus to increase the yield of the machine and the production of full length fibers.

Another ob ect is to feed the leaves through a facilitated and complicated elevating and transfer mechanisms are eliminated.

Still further obJects are to provide a smaller, more compact and simpler scutching machine of equal or greater capacity and of more satisfactory and more efficient operation than scutching machines as previously proposed.

Other obJects will appear more fully hereinafter as the description of the invention proceeds.

Machines embodying the invention, generally described, comprise a pair of scutchmg wheels spaced apart in the direction of the travel of the leaves and rotating in opposite directions, but substantially coaxial instead of being located on opposite sides or the path of travel of the centers of the leaves. ihis path of travel, instead of being located at about the level of the axes of the wheels, in a horizontal plane extending over the tops of the wheels, and each wheel rotates outwardly and downwardly under one end of the leaf and away from its center in a curved path. Arcuate scutching plates are then inverted over the upper portions or the wheels, extending away from the center line of the machine in opposite directions corresponding with the directions of rotation of the wheels.

Thus at each wheel the free half or more of the leaf that is to be cleaned extends from the gripping and conveying devices substantially horizontaliy over the top of the wheel and then in a gentle curve over its upper periphery, the leaf being scutched against the underneath side of the inverted scutching plate. In effect the leaves are supported at or near their centers and their ends permitted to droop in gradual curves conforming to the circumferences of their wheels, the rate of curvature depending on the radii of the wheels which can be selected as desired. Actually, of course, each leaf is first gripped somewhat to one side of its center and then the cleaned fiber is gripped somewhat to the other side of the center so that the successive scutching operations cover the center. However, the difference in elevation between these gripping points is so slight that no special elevating mechanism is required for the cleaned fiber, it being sufficient of the fibers without breaking them over sharp corners.

One embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be expressly understood that said drawings are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for this purpose.

In the drawings,

, Fig. 1 is a side view of the complete machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a View of the entrance end of the machine;

Figs. i and 5 are detail sections on the lines 4 l and 55 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 6 and '7 show respectively the first and the second conveying means; and

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating the manner of supporting the leaves as they are conveyed through the machine.

The machine may have any suitable supporting frame, as for example one built up by riveting or welding. In the form shown, the machine rests on a bed plate l and the frame structure comprises four parallel vertical transverse partitions 2, 3, 4 and 5 which are rigidly connected in any suitable manner as by horizontal flanges 6 midway in the height of the machine, etc. The partitions 2 and 5 enclose the moving parts of the apparatus at both ends and preferably the lower part of the machine below the flanges *5 is further enclosed by side plates secured to the transverse partitions. Above the flanges 6 the moving parts of the machine are sufficiently housed and shielded by the leaf supporting means, etc., hereinafter described in detail.

The machine comprises two scutching wheels '5 and 8 which are spaced axially and arranged to rotate in opposite directions on substantially coaxial horizontal axes. In the form shown, the wheel 1 is mounted on a shaft 9 which extends through the partitions 2 and 3 and is carried in bearings it supported by the flanges 6. The wheel 8 is similarly mounted on a shaft l l which extends through the partitions 4 and 5 and is carried in bearings 12 supported by the flanges 6.

Any suitable means may be employed for driving the wheels I, 8 in appropriate and opposite directions. In the form shown, wheel I is assumed to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed from the left-hand end of the machine, whereas wheel 8 rotates in the opposite direction. Wheel 1 is driven by a pulley !3 on the end of its shaft 3 and by a belt M running from the pulley 3 to a pulley M3 on a drive shaft it, this shaft being driven in the appropriate direction by means of a belt H. The wheel 8 is similarly driven in the opposite direction by a pulley M3 on its shaft 1% l and by a belt I 9 running from the pulley I8 to a pulley 29 on a drive shaft 2! this shaft being driven in the approprite direction by means of a belt 22. Each of the wheels may be provided with scutching blades 23 of any suitable type as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

The leaves are conveyed through the machine and in succession over the two scutching wheels I and 8 by suitable conveying devices which engage the leaves adjacent their centers as hereinafter described. The direction of movement of the leaves is assumed to be from left to right as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. During this travel the ends of the'leaves are prevented from hanging down from the conveyors, and are carried through ;7 ing from the inner edge of slot 4| in partition 3 to the inner edge of slot 41 in partition 4. The support 48 also serves as a shield or housing between these partitions.

Partition 5 has a right-hand slot portion 48 corresponding to the slot 41 in partition 4, and between these partitions the cleaned fiber is carried over the wheel 8 by a curved support 50 similar to the support 44 and extending from the inner edge of slot 41 to the inner edge of slot 49. The cleaned fiber passing through slot 49 and beyond the partition 5 may be carried for a suitable distance on a support 5| which is integral with or a continuation of the support 50.

The left-hand slot 52 of partition 4 corresponds to the right-hand slots 38 and 4| of partitions 2 and 3, and the uncleaned left-hand end of the leaf which emerges from partition 3 is carried to partition 4 by a conical support 53 that is the reverse of the support 48. In other words, support 53 extends from the inner edge of the slot in partition 3 to the inner edge of the slot 52 in partition 4 which is of less radius to expose the rotating scutching blades of the second wheel. The conical support 53 thus allows the uncleaned left-hand end of the leaf to move radially inward as it travels axially between partitions 3 and 4, whereby this end of the leaf is fed to the second scutching wheel in the same manner as described above with reference to the right-hand end. In passing between partitions 4 and 5, this left-hand end of the leaf is cleaned against an inverted arcuate scutching plate 54 similar to the scutching plate 39, and the cleaned fiber emerging from partition 5 is preferably carried on beyond the partition for a suitable distance by means of a curved support 55. Preferably a grating 56 similar to the gratings 29 is provided at the discharge end of the machine this grating 56 being supported by braces 51.

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 illustrate in detail suitable conveying mechanisms whereby the leaves are moved through the machine as described above. There are two of these conveyors, one passing the first wheel I on the left-hand side of the center line of the machine as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 and the other passing the second wheel 8. on the right-hand side of the center line as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. Each of these conveying mechanisms preferably comprises two continuously moving elements between which the leaf is gripped under pressure. These elements may take various forms, such as chains or belts or a combination of both, and preferably the lower element is supported and the upper element is held downwardly against the lower element by spring pressure. Referring to Figs. 4 and 6, the lower element of the first conveyor comprises a chain 58 the links of which carry plates or pads 59 forming a more or less continuous surface. This chain 58 passes over a sprocket 60 which is mounted on the frame 35 in advance of the partition 2 and between the sprockets 32 of the belts 3|, all of these sprockets being preferably on the same shaft. The chain travels horizontally from sprocket 68 in the direction of feed of the leaves at a level just slightly above the circular path of travel of the outer edegs of the scutching blades 23 as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The horizontal reach of the chain is supported by a rail Bl which begins at a point close to the sprocket 58 and continues through the partitions 2 and 3. The rail is provided with channels 62 along each edge in which are mounted ro1lers'63 on which the chain pads 59 ride as shown in Fig. 4. The rollers may be lubricated by oil pipes 54. Between the partitions 2 and 3, the rail 6| may be cut away on one side as shown at 55 (Fig. 4) in order to bring it down closer to the scutching wheel without interfering with the rotation of the scutching blades. This is desirable in order to have as little bending in the leaves as possible, while keeping the chain 58 in toward the center line of the machine.

The rail 5| is supported in any suitable manner, preferably resting in corresponding notches G3 in the partitions 2 and 3 (Fig. 8) and on associated brackets 67 (Fig. 6). Beyond the partition 3, the end 68 of the rail curves downwardly for a purpose hereinafter stated, this end of the rail being supported by an arm 69. Preferably a belt 78 runs on top of the chain pads 59.

Thus the left-hand part of the leaf is supported near its center by the horizontal reach of the chain and belt as it moves over the first scutching wheel, the end of the leaf being supported by the table section 25, the support 4d and the support 53 as described above. It is desirable to convey this end of the leaf positively well past the partition 3 to make sure that the cleaned fiber at the other end, which tends to lag behind, is positively engaged by the second conveying means described hereinafter. It is also desirable to make sure that the left-hand end of the leaf is fed properly to the second scutching wheel. Hence the chain 58 and belt iii are continued beyond partition 3 to partition 3, overlapping the second conveying means as described below. As

A the end of the leaf approaches the slot 52 in partition =3, the chain and belt run downwardly over the curved end 58 of the rail Bi and then over a roller '12 mounted on a bracket 53 secured to the partition 4. This roller is preferably so iocated that the chain and belt run slightly through the partition 4 just below the inner edge of the slot 52 and then downwardly in an inclined direction that takes them back through the partition in the reverse direction, the chain and belt running in a vertical slot in the partition and carrying the end of the leaf into and through the feed slot 52.

From roller 72 the chain and belt pass downwardly around a drive sprocket on a cross shaft 14, thence horizontally to a sprocket l5 mounted at the bottom of the frame 35, and thence upwardly to the sprocket E5 as described above.

The upper conveyor element preferably comprises a similar combination of chain and belt that is arranged for assembly as a unit and installation on or removal from the machine as a unit. To these ends the upper edges of the partitions 2 and 3 are slotted vertically (Fig. 8) to receive the upper unit which is carried by a plate 798 having depending arms ll adjustably bolted at 5'8 to partitions 2 and 3 on both sides of the slots. The vertical position of the plate it can be determined by adjusting screws 78 which engage the top edges of the partitions 2 and 3 and are adjusted before the bolts 18 are secured. Thus the entire upper unit can be installed or removed as a unit. The lower reach of the upper chain and belt is pressed down by suitable resilient means against the upper reach of the lower chain and belt that is supported by the rail 6! as described above. In the form shown, the upper conveyor element comprises a chain passing around an idler sprocket Bl at one end of the plate l5 and a drive sprocket 32 at its other end the plate having openings in which the sprockets rotate and through which the chain passes. Sprocket 82 is 11 I35 at the other end of the upper chain, are carried by the plate I35 corresponding to the plate I6 of the first conveying means.

Preferably the belts I08 and II! are arranged to serve as means for discharging the cleaned fiber from the machine after it emerges from the partition onto the supports 5I and 55. Both belts pass over a roller I31 whereby the lower belt is separated from the lower chain I01 and the two belts caused to follow the upper chain part way around its idler sprocket I35 as shown in Fig. 7. The roller I31 may suitably be mounted on an arm I38 connected to the frame I23 mentioned above. From roller I31 both belts pass outwardly and downwardly for a substantial distance to carry the cleaned fiber positively out of the machine while it is still gripped between the belts. When this action has been continued far enough, the upper belt II 1 passes upwardly around a roller I39 and thence around a roller I40 from which it returns to the upper reach of the upper chain, both of these rollers and the rollers I I8, I I9 forming part of the assembly carried by the plate I38. The lower belt I08, however, continues outwardly and downwardly to a roller I4I carried by arms I42 extending from the frame I23, thus carrying the clean fiber out to the discharge end of the machine. From the roller I4I the belt I08 passes down and back to the lower chain at the sprocket I22.

The bagasse discharged at the bottom of the machine is carried away by suitable transverse conveyors, one under each wheel, which can be driven in either direction and either in the same or in opposite directions as may be desired. In the form shown, a transverse drive shaft I43 is located at the bottom of the machine below the drive shaft I24 and driven from it by a chain I44. A bevel gear. I45 on shaft I43 drives a bevel gear I45 on a longitudinal shaft I41 which carries drive pulleys I43 and I49 for conveyor belts I50 and I5I respectively. These conveyors pass transversely under the wheels I and 8 respectively to idler pulleys I52 and I53 respectively at the other side of the machine. The direction of movement of the conveyors depends upon whether the bevel gear I46 is at the left or at the right of the bevel gear I 45 as seen in Fig. 1.

The operation of the machine will be clear from the foregoing description and may be briefly summarized as follows. Leaves to be cleaned are placed across the feed table and carried forward by the belts 3| with their ends drooping over the curved side sections 25 and 26 of the table. As a leaf nears the end partition 2, it is gripped between the belts 3| by the first conveying means and carried through the entrance slots in the partition and past the first wheel I. The lefthand end of the leaf is carried over this wheel, while the right-hand end of the leaf passes between the scutching blades 23 and the scutching plate 39 as shown in Fig. 4. The leaf is thus cleaned throughout slightly more than half of its length at its right-hand end, but without any abrupt or sharp bending, the pull of the scutching blade being exerted longitudinally of the fibers without bending them over sharp corners.

Between the intermediate partitions 3 and 4, the left-hand end of the leaf is carried positively forward by the first conveyor while it is also moved radially inward so as to pass under the second scutching plate. This feeding action is continued right up to the partition 4.

Meanwhile the cleaned fiber at the right-hand 12 end of the leaf is engaged by the second conveyor and moved ahead with its free end resting on the support 48. At the same time this cleaned end of the leaf moves radially outward far enough to pass over the second wheel on the support 50. Also the second conveyor moves substantially faster than the first conveyor so that the righthand fiber end of the leaf catches up with the uncleaned left-hand end of the leaf substantially as the leaf passes through the partition 4 and is released by the first conveyor. Thereafter the leaf is dragged'past the second wheel by the sec- 0nd conveyor while the left-hand end is being cleaned as shown in Fig. 5, again without sharp bends in the fiber.

The cleaned fiber emerging from partition 5 is carried to discharge by the belt I08. The bagasse is discharged by the wheels I and 8 on the conveyors I50 and I5I and thereby conveyed to waste.

Each leaf is thus carried through the machine supported near its center and with its ends drooping somewhat but in a gradual curve. There is no material change in the configuration of the leaf throughout, the only variation being that each end in succession is caused to move radially inward just enough for it to pass under the respective inverted arcuate scutching plates. Thus no'material bending of the fibers takes place and breakage of fibers is minimized. N0 overturning or interchanging mechanism is required, and the leaves pass automatically through the machine at a relatively high rate, with correspondingly large capacity.

By mounting the two wheels coaxially, the lateral dimensions of the machine are substantially reduced. The wheels are completely enclosed, and the upper conveyor elements are at the top of the machine close to the center line and remote from the operators, so that the danger of accident and injury to the operator is reduced to a minimum. The machine is completely automatic in operation, and once assembled there are no mechanisms to get out of adjustment and require shutdowns and servicing.

While ony one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the drawings, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted to this embodiment, but is susceptible of a variety of mechanical expressions, and also that various changes may be made in the form, details of construction and arrangement of the parts, all without departing from the spirit of the invention. Reference should therefore be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine of the class described comprising' two upright scutching wheels rotatin in opposite directions one behind the other, an arcuate plate over each wheel and extending around the wheel in the direction in which the wheel rotates,

than the first scutching surface, said supporting means comprising a section forming a continuation of the feed table over the other side of the first wheel and terminating adjacent the face of the second wheel in an arcuate surface substantially concentric with but of less radius than the second scutching surface, said supporting means further comprising a section receiving the cleaned ends of said materials from the first scutching surface and carrying them over the second wheel on the side thereof opposite to the second scutching surface.

2. Green decorticating apparatus of the class described comprising two upright scutching wheels rotating in opposite directions one behind the other, stationary arcuate plates one substantially concentric with each wheel and extending around its wheel in the direction of rotation thereof, each wheel having axially extending blades the edges of which are substantially parallel to and spaced closely from the underneath surface of the associated plate, whereby materials to be cleaned are forced against said underneath surfaces and scutched by said blades, stationary supports for said materials one extending relative to each wheel in the direction opposite to its plate, the upper surfaces of said supports being located at a greater distance from the axis of the machine than said underneath surfaces, inclined material supports each extending axially between said wheels from a point below one of said underneath surfaces up to the level of the axially aligned support, and means for conveying said materials through the machine past said wheels in succession, said materials at I each wheel being partly carried by its support and partly scutched against the underneath surface of its plate.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, comprising a feed table in advance of the first wheel terminating at said first wheel in a section corresponding with the stationary support and another section that is arcuate and concentric with but of less radius than the scutching surface.

4. Green decorticating apparatus of the class described comprising two upright scutching wheels rotating in opposite directions one behind the other, stationary arcuate plates one substantially concentric with each wheel and extending around its wheel in the direction of rotation thereof, each wheel having axially extending blades the edges of which are substantially parallel to and spaced closely from the underneath surface of the associated plate, whereby materials to be cleaned are forced against said underneath surfaces and scutched by said blades, stationary supports for said materials one extending relative to each wheel in the direction opposite to its plate, the upper surfaces of said supports being located at a greater distance from the axis of the machine than said underneath surfaces, inclined material supports each extending axially between said wheels from a point below one of said underneath surfaces up to the level of the axially aligned support, and separate conveying means each moving said materials past one wheel, said conveying means being offset laterally and each extending axially over the support at its associated wheel.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, each of said conveying means comprising a pair of endless conveyors having parallel reaches between which said materials are gripped and conveyed, at least one conveyor of each pair comprising a series of pads individually and resiliently mounted to accommodate irregularities in the thickness of said materials and an outer flexible continuous beltlike member extending around and moving with said pads.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, together with means for pressing one of said parallel reaches toward the other and means for supporting said other reach against the pressure.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said conveying means overlap each other in the axial direction, the overlapping end of each con- Veying means being inclined in approximate correspondence with the inclined support associated therewith.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, the conveying means at the second wheel moving at greater speed than the conveying means at the first wheel.

9. Green decorticating apparatus of the class described comprising two upright scutching wheels rotating in opposite directions one behind the other, stationary arcuate scutching plates one extending around eachwheel in its direction of rotation from points located approximately in the same axial line above the axes of the wheels, stationary arcuate supports one extending around each wheel from its scutching plate and in the opposite direction, the outer surfaces of said supports being at a, greater radius from the axis of the machine than the scutching surfaces on the inner sides of said plates, intermediate radially inclined supports extending from the ends of each stationary support to points adjacent to and radially inward of said scutching surfaces, and laterally off-set and axially overlapping conveying means one extending axially over each stationary support.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, said intermediate supports having substantially conical surfaces decreasing in radius from the stationary support at one wheel toward the other wheel and having a final radius less than that of the scutching surface at said other wheel.

JOHN S. REEVES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 328,357 Stephens d. Oct. 13, 1885 1,047,998 Shely Dec. 24, 1912 1,389,883 Lambert et a1 Sept. 6, 1921 1,486,750 Holland-Letz Mar. 11, 1924 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 869 Great Britain of 1883 

